Volume 26, Issue 1_supplement
Abstract
Limited data are available on the impact of overall dietary pattern on prospective risk of MI in women particularly in Europe. We conducted a prospective analysis among 71,886 women in the French E3N-EPIC study (mean age of 52.9 y at dietary assessment using a 208-item validated FFQ). During a median 11.8 y follow-up, 171 cases of incident MI were confirmed. Factor analysis identified two dietary patterns: “Western-Alcohol” (high in processed foods including meats, canned fish, butter, cream, and alcoholic beverages) and “Healthy-Mediterranean (Med)-like” (high in fruit, vegetables, non-processed fish, olive oil, and sunflower oil). Western-Alcohol pattern was not associated with MI. The absolute risk of MI was 24.8 and 12.8 per 100,000 women in the 4th and 1st quartiles of the Healthy-Med-like pattern, respectively. The hazard ratio for 4th vs 1st quartile was 0.58 (95% CI: 0.37–0.92) after adjusting for CVD risk factors, hormone-replacement therapy and energy intake. Greater adherence to a Med diet pattern may contribute to MI reduction in women. The lack of an association between Western pattern and MI may suggest that alcohol intake counterbalances the atherogenic effect of Western diet.